SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for accessible and equitable education following the Senate’s approval on second reading of Senate Bill No. 1894, or the proposed Enhancing Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Go, a co-author and co-sponsor of the measure, said the bill aims to strengthen Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by expanding assistance for poor and disadvantaged students pursuing tertiary and technical-vocational education.

He stressed that while free tuition has opened opportunities for many Filipinos, government support must be directed to students who need it most.

“Ang importante dito, masigurado nating ang tulong ay mapupunta sa mga estudyanteng mas nangangailangan. Hindi dapat mahirapan ang mahihirap na pamilya na lumapit sa gobyerno para sa edukasyon ng kanilang mga anak,” Go said.

The proposed measure gives priority to students from vulnerable sectors, including persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, learners under foster care, solo parents and their dependents, children at risk, first-generation tertiary learners, and students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Under the bill, senior high school graduates from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program households certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development would automatically qualify for the Tertiary Education Subsidy once admitted to a Commission on Higher Education-recognized higher education institution or a TESDA-recognized technical-vocational institution.

Go also emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in implementing education assistance programs, saying public funds must be released efficiently and reach legitimate beneficiaries.

“Dapat malinaw ang proseso, mabilis ang pag-release, at may pananagutan ang lahat ng nagpapatupad. Pondo ito ng taumbayan, kaya dapat makarating ito nang tama at maayos sa mga estudyanteng dapat makinabang,” he said.

The bill proposes expanding Tertiary Education Subsidy coverage beyond tuition and school fees to include transportation, books and school supplies, room and board, computer or laptop expenses, disability-related costs, and clinical internship and Related Learning Experience fees for nursing and allied health students.

Go noted that many students continue to face financial difficulties despite free tuition because of other education-related expenses.

“Maraming estudyante ang libre nga ang tuition, pero nahihirapan pa rin sa pamasahe, gamit sa eskwela, tirahan, pagkain, at iba pang gastusin. Kaya dapat mas tingnan natin ang tunay na kalagayan nila,” he said.

The measure also seeks to institutionalize monitoring and validation systems, streamline the release of assistance to prevent delays, and impose sanctions on institutions that fail to meet quality standards.

Go linked his support for the proposal to the Duterte administration’s push for free tertiary education, recalling his role in defending RA 10931 in 2017 while serving as Special Assistant to then president Rodrigo Duterte amid concerns over funding requirements.